Jakarta. Indonesian police have frozen Rp 154.3 billion ($9.5 million) linked to online gambling operations, in the latest move by authorities to dismantle a network of illicit digital betting platforms that has surged in recent years.

The funds were spread across 811 bank accounts that investigators believe were used to either channel bets or hold gambling proceeds, according to data from the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim).

Senior Commissioner Ferdy Saragih, head of Bareskrim’s cybercrime unit, said the account freezes were made following recommendations from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), Indonesia’s anti-money laundering watchdog.

“There is strong suspicion that the funds originated from online gambling activities,” Ferdy said on Tuesday. “This will not be the last. Police will continue pursuing the perpetrators and networks behind these practices.”

The operation reflects Indonesia’s escalating campaign against online gambling, which is officially illegal but has expanded rapidly through mobile apps and social media channels. Earlier this month, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) ordered banks nationwide to block nearly 26,000 accounts suspected of links to online gambling.

The OJK has also instructed banks to conduct enhanced due diligence, cross-checking account holders against Indonesia’s national ID (NIK) system before closing flagged accounts.

PPATK reported earlier that more than 25,000 accounts had been flagged for gambling-related transactions between 2023 and July 2025, with flows amounting to about Rp 1 trillion ($61 million).

Authorities say the crackdown is not just about financial crime but also social protection. Illegal gambling is believed to disproportionately affect low-income households, often driving families deeper into debt.

“This is part of our commitment to cleaning up the digital space from illegal practices,” Ferdy added.

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